Measure 17-63, also known as the Freedom from Pesticides Bill of Rights, would have secured the rights of the people of Josephine County to clean air, water, and soil, and the rights of nature to exist and flourish – while prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides by government and corporations that require an applicator license as a violation of those rights.

“Though it didn’t pass, nearly 9,000 people in Josephine County stood up for the first time to protect their rights against toxic pesticides”, says Audrey Moore of the Freedom from Pesticides Alliance – backers of Measure 17-63. “Having to contend with a disingenuous ballot title and a corporate funded campaign of lies proved to be to much to combat this go around.”

The corporate opposition out spent the Freedom from Pesticides Alliance 8 to 1, including $30,000 from CropLife, a Washington D.C. industry front group for pesticides corporations. “The corporate opposition held all the cards, with funding and media outlets ignoring the truth while helping to instill fear and doubt which was all they needed to do and it worked.”, said Moore.

The Freedom from Pesticides Alliance will be meeting soon to decide its next step. “We feel like we actually won tonight because something big took place here, and not just for the good of Josephine County but for the whole state and even other parts of the country”, says Moore. “For 40 years now the state has protected the use of toxic pesticides against people and nature by corporations and government. This is but the first of many campaigns needed in order to put a stop to the chemical assaults taking place all across Oregon.”

“If you won’t STOP the pesticides, we will!”

Members of STOP and communities across the State are frustrated over the States apparent unwillingness to stop the pesticides from trespassing into communities, onto properties, and into bodies.

The Exposure Investigation was put on hold March 8, 2012 due to timber corporation choosing to move their chemical applications.
The change in local pesticide applications has made it more difficult for OHA to fully answer the questions posed by The Exposure Investigation.

We are STANDING TOGETHER to put a STOP to the “ultra hazardous” activity that the corporate timber interests have been getting away with for over 30 years.

We want the pesticide cycle to end. We are actively supporting solutions, such as selective harvesting, where the need for pesticides is obliterated. You can help us!

PESTICIDE POISONING INCIDENT IN CURRY COUNTY, OCTOBER 2013

A timely example of how the Oregon Forest Practices Act, a corporate written law, favors corporate timber by elevating their rights, over the rights and health of the community! Failing to protect the people of Oregon and failing to protect their drinking water, residents in Curry County are experiencing first hand what happens when the State won’t protect you. Taking months to get spray records from ODA, so they could get medical help, Cedar Valley residents are seeing up close how the regulatory system is set up to be a buffer between the community/citizen and the corporate harm-doer!

I pledge to avoid using pesticides in my home, yard and garden!!

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to protect the health of families, neighbors, farms, forests, watershed, and all life from pesticide poisons. We want to affect change in the policies and practices that have allowed pesticides to be used in a manner which infringe upon basic human and constitutional rights.